THE anniversaries of two historic items of rolling stock were marked at the Ribble Steam Railway’s (RSR) Autumn Steam Gala over the weekend of September 30-October 1.
A cake was brought out to the platform of Riverside station at 12.50 on the Saturday, so that the 160th and 125th birthdays respectively of Furness Railway 0-4-0 No. 20 and Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon carriage No. 5 could be celebrated.The loco and coach form part of the Furness RailwayTrust (FRT) collection, which is based at the RSR in Preston.
No. 5 made its public debut in style at the gala after an overhaul – when it was used to offer the RSR’s inaugural first-class cream tea experience, a sell-out on both days.
Built in 1898 for the then Princess ofWales, Princess Alexandra, No. 5 was later used by the Stratford Civil Engineer as an inspection saloon.
Other attractions at the gala included Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST Waleswood (750/1906) visiting from the Chasewater Railway.